Toggle bolt



Oct. 13, 1959 A. A. APFELzwElG `2,908,196

TOGGLE YBOLT Filed Jul;r 25, 1957fIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINIIIIIIIIIIHMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII'lI IIIIII ATTORNEY 2,908,196 Patented Oct. 13, 1959 TOGGLE BOLT Alex A.Apfelzweig, Palm `Springs, Calif. Application July 25, 1957, Serial No.674,209

3 claims. -(cl. ss-s) .Y

The present invention relates to a toggle bolt.

An important object of the invention is to provide a toggle bolt orfastener for use in securing various objects to lath and plaster Wallsand similar structures wherein the material of which they are composedis not adapted to be screw-threaded for coaction with a threaded bolt orto coact frictionally with a retaining means. l

A further important object of the invention is to provide a toggle boltwhich can be manufactured very cheaply and economically, and whichmayemploy as the screw-threaded member thereof an ordinary stove bolt orscrew of standard design, there being'no necessity to employ a speciallymachined screw, or the' like.

Another important object of the invention is to provide Va toggle bolthaving a construction and mode of operation enabling the device to beused in any position, such as horizontal or vertical, vand wherein thetoggle element is not wholly dependent upon lgravity for the properoperation of the bolt. Y

Another object is to provide a toggle bolt construction, wherein theimproved toggle element has a novel coaction with the standard screwemployed for shifting the toggle element to the active position,regardless of the position of the toggle bolt assembly during use.

A still further object is to provide a toggle bolt of theabove-mentioned character which is highly compact in construction, veryslender when the toggle element is in the inactive position, andreliable and efficient in operation.

A further object is to provide a toggle bolt for use upon walls,ceilings or other panels having a relatively wide range of thicknesses.

Other objects and advantages of the invention Will be apparent duringthe course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forminlg a part of this application, andin which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughoutthe same,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a toggle bolt in accordance with theinvention.

Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the same.

Figure 3 is a central vertical longitudinal section through the togglebolt showing one adjusted position of the same during use.

Figure 4 is a further sectional view similar to Figure 3 and showing asubsequent adjusted position of the toggle bolt in use. I f

Figure 5 is a transverse vertical section taken on line 5 5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a similar section taken on line 6-6 of Figure 3.

Figure 7 is a similar section taken on line 7-7 of Figure 4.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary central vertical section through a slightlymodiiied form of toggle bolt.

Figure 9 is an enlarged transverse vertical section taken on line 9-9 ofFigure 8. i

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration are shownpreferred embodiments of the invention,

nited States Patent Otlce attention is directed iirst to Figures lthrough 7, wherein the numeral 10 designates generally an elongatedcylindrical barrel or sleeve of preferred length, and provided at oneend with an enlarged flat annular head 11, preferably formed integraltherewith. Near its end having the head 11, the barrel comprises arelatively short thick walled portion 12 having a central longitudinalopening 13 formed therethrough forthe free passage of a screw 14, suchas an ordinary stove bolt or the like. The screw 14 has a head 15provided with the usual screwdriver slot 16, as shown. If preferred, theinner face of the head 11 may be provided at diametrically opposedthroughout the major portion of its length. The end Vof the barrel 10remote from the head 11 is partly closed by a ring 20, soldered, weldedor otherwise rigidly secured therein as indicated. The ring 20, ineliect, constitutes a barrier at the adjacent endsof the slots 18, asshown.

A plate-1ike clamp or toggle element 21 is provided, and being of athickness to engage snugly through the slots 18 of the barrel 10 in themanner shown.` The toggle element 21 is provided near its longitudinalcenter with a spherically curved enlargement 22, integral there` with,and projecting equidistantly beyond opposite sides `of the toggleelement, as `shown clearly in Figure 5. The spherical enlargement 22 isadapted to be received snugly yet slidably within the smooth cylindricalbore 23 of the barrel 10, whereby the toggle element 21 is renderedfreely pivotal upon the barrel in'the plane ot the slots 18. The toggleelement 2.1 has a screw-threaded opening 24 formed therethroughtransversely at the center of the spherical enlargement 22. Thisscrew-threaded opening-24 is parallel to the opposite flat sides of thetoggle element 21 and normal to the narrow longitudinal edges of thetoggle element, as shown in the drawings. The screw-threaded opening 24is countersunk at one end thereof as indicated at 25, to form a pilot orguide for the forward end of the screw 14. l

I'he toggle element 21is provided upon its longitudinal edge remote fromthe counter-bore 25 with an integral stop lug or element 26, whichprojects slightly beyond the opposite ilat faces or sides of the toggleelement for limiting pivotal movement of the toggle element in bothdirections, as will be further explained. The stop element 26 is of thin`or shallow construction, asy shown, so as to be substantially `Hushwith the periphery of the barrel 10 when the toggle element 21 is in thelongitudinal or inactive position indicated in Figure 3 of the drawings.

Toggle element 21 is constructed so as to be overbalanced at one endupon its pivotal portion 22. Such overbalanced end of the toggle elementis provided with anl integral longitudinal extension 27 of reducedwidth, althoughbeing of the same thicknes as the remainder of the toggleelement. 'Ihe reduced extension 27 is formed adjacent to thelongitudinal edge -28 of the toggle element which carries the stopelement 26, Figure 3. The end 29 of the extension 27 is smoothlyrounded, as shown, for camming engagement with the end of the screw 14.The reduced extension 27 has astraight longitudinal edge portion 30,joined smoothly with the rounded end portion 29, and disposedsubstantially at the longitudinal center line of the .toggle element.The ystraight edge portion 30 leads to and blends smoothly into yareversely curved shoulder or cam portion 31Uof -It may thus he seen thatthe slots 18 extend longitudinally of the barrel 10 j 3. the toggleelement, which in turnileads to and yblends with a smoothly curved orrounded shoulder portion 32. The rounded shoulder 32 in turn joinssmoothly with the adiacent ilongit-udirialv edge .33V of the toggle'ele'men't ref.Y mote frornfthelongitudina'l edge 28 thereof.l The; endof 5 the toggle elementZI' remote from the reduced extensionV 27 is-lireferablyy smoothly curyedor: roundedas Yindi.- cated'. at' 34,- and;as shown in the: drawings;l their end' 34 isvclrvedgenerallyfreverselyof the` cunv'ed end` 29,4` for'thefull width of thetoggle element. Thecurved end f 34'extends somewhat diagonallyof the toggle element 21, to'format one side of the same arounded corner 35.

The'use'or operation of the toggle bolt is `as` fol'lowszl4` With the'toggle'eleni'ent 21 Aassembled to the Abarrel'V 101 in' themannershownfthe toggle element is swung ,to there. inactive positionwhereinA Yit extends `longitudinally t of or parallel to the barrel. Inthis position, the st'opelement i 2-6 will engage the barrel uponopposite sides of. the adjacent slot `18 to limit pivoting of the toggleelement in one direction. It will be observedtthat whenthe toggle:element is in theinactive position, .Figure 3it is housed bodilyiwithinzthe barrel 10 Vin* flush relation withothe Y barrel, so that the`assembly has only the diameter oft-he brrel andis entirely smooth andiush.` ,When inzthepinactiveposition longitudinally` of theV barrel,.theItoggle element lZ1' may yhe shifted longitudinallyof the bore-ofthebarrelasdesired. .Y The barrel 10, withthe'toggle elementintheinactive; position, may now be inserted through an opening 136,',Vform'edpin'fa-fplaster Wall 37 or the like, VWitllthelgea'd 11" of thebarrel arranged outermost for engagement 'With j theface ofthe wall. Thescrew 14'isnowinsertedthrough the guide opening 13 and thrust forwardlyuntil its leading end comes into camming, engagement with the roundedend 29 ofthe extension'ZT. Whenthis ocours, continued .35 forwardmovement of the screw 14 will immediately or pivot the toggleelement 21to the active position at l .right angles to the barrel;10, as indicatedinLFigures 1 v and 4 of the drawings.V In such position, the'stopelement 26- will again engagethe sidewall of the b arrel to. pref. 40vent further pivoting of thetoggle element beyondjits position at` rightangles to the i:arreLf4 When the; toggle bolt is employed in ahorizontal or nearly horizontal position, movement'of the toggle elementtothe active position 4 will be assisted byl gravity, since'fthetoggleelement" i s overbalanc'ed at its yend adjacent to the extension 2751 45However, an important featurepf the present, invention", resides *in`the' fact' thatr the-operation ofthe toggle v element is not whollydependent upon gravity, rand Where itYV is desired to use: the togglebolt in 4avertical;position, ;as when-fasteningj-an object Y toa ceilingor the'like, gravity 50 will not effectl theoperation ofthe toggleelement 21, but the insertion of theyscrew lflalonewill servetoshigftthe. toggle; element to theactive position atmightfanglesjtolthe barrel, becausebfhe c amrningl engagement between; the forward endoflthe screw andthe rounded' portion 29 55 of theextension 27. Y

After:thetoggleclementi has Lbeen turned by the'screw to 'the 'activeposition shown in Figuresl and 4, thel forward endof Athescrewwillengage within thecoun'terbore 25 andbe guided smoothly into'the screw-threaded opening^2 4 When this occurs, it is-merely necessaryAto-turn therswli with a Screwdriver for threading the ysameVV i fhoush.the. vpeningrzl and subsequently" drawing-lhs. Y. toggle element 2 1intojclamping engagement with the innerinaccessible face of Vthewall 37.Y f 65 lith@ @Veuf .fhatflfhe toggle 'element 2l Whilrin, the;inactiveposition,I Figure 3 ,isA initially near 'the head `v`11,lratherthan nearthe ring 2 0 as shown in Figure -3, t h e Scfswlfi.Williirst; .Shiitithetoggle v@lementlengthwise of: the barrely 10 ja4sullcient distance `to"V clear th e inner face 0f the, nell renflilin;thescrw, will; @aci Withih; Y rounded portion 2.9 to ypivot the toggleelement into-its active positionat rightangles to the barrel l1.0.`Additionf` i ally, ifklthej toggle bolt is employed ina horizontal'position as shevvna'rigure, therofcf gravity tend te @freetime/ 1,10Amn 'pins Y tior1 .Qr...the scope. ofthe subjoined .fz a

4 Y partially pivot .the toggleielement toward its active posi. tionprior to the introduction of the screw 14. In this event, the forwardend of the screw will merely engage the rounded edges 311 and 32 ratherthan. the rounded part 29for completing the pivoting of the toggle ele-Vment to its active position as shown in Figure 4.. The rounded end 34 ofthe toggl element will aure that there is no binding ofthe to le elementwith the ring 20, during the action of thlscrew for shifting the toggleelement to the.astir'r..positionfY With reference tFigures 8 an 9, asli'gltitodication of the nventionlisllshotwn, ,whereimther longitudinal.edges of one of the slots 18 are beveled in `dim/erging relation,Figure 9. For cactin with the slot 18 having the beveled edges', thetoggle element 21 is provided along one longitudinal edge with anelongated flared enlargement having diverging beveled edges 26 to beseated 1 against the`.bevel ed.= edges of-.the slot' 4Iii-whenthejtoggle elementsis extending longitudinally; of the barrel 10.

Withlthisarr'angement, thebevelediedgeszl of tleztoggleelement,zlgconstitutean integralt'stop forithe toggle-Seelen; ment ,to limt itspivoting in bothdirections asrshovm inr Figures 8 and9. When the toggleelement 21 ;is in` the;

inactive pitofnshQwnn-Eigure 8, 1theedges..zsiuengagen: within. thebeve1ed,s1 .t LA Sfandgthe stop; enlargement I.0f the.y toggle .element.is perfectly ,i-ush: with; the @utensils-:f face of thecylindricalbarrel 10. Whenthe toggle element, 21 is inthe active position, at rightangles ,tothe barrel; 10 as shown in-broken lines in figure 8 ,g t heintegral-stop. enlargementthayina theedges 295'alqsofliniitsi-.theswinging motemntpfrthetoggleelemen .through contactof the =Sf9p enlargement. ,with thebarre Thestonenlargefg---mentvteitendsffrpm -aroint adjal ont the vscripting einher;

' barrgllgutg, to thefend ofthe togglelernent havingw 'thelgcam pqr-tion21o.;Thestoplenlargement doestnotf extend along thel remainder ofthelongitudinal edge of theslemelitZl-.- l Y @eine its it'om"Laagiiaotiiiyinaignith:sin@i above arrangementjn to ,employingSeparate stQp element 26,. Shown. andtdef, scribed in the S'tfsirinn;tiisairirnitif i1,.fwhigh@ermital Step element f. .ne'rfetlyHush with ihepeiirhery tiomwith. the parts prcviouslvdescribedinconnectionY with the rst form of the invention. f ln.- CQnnwtimn-,Withboth; .formsot th; invention, ,it is @desiredtestatethatgitrissntielyfea:10mm the.: various parts from metal, mold e d pl as t i csmaterial QrL-f.

the likel .lf'the Aparts are molded Lfromplastics inthe like, the ring4lement 20 may be formedintegral Withfrthe. barlll an. i i la;n.ijgoig'a: iff; lil It is tobeunderstood ha theforms of the invention.herewith Shown audfdescribedtare, to, beiaken asspre-ff;ferred-embodimjegts o-.f the saine, andthat yanousicharig'es in theShape, size and arrangementnf p.artjs, n1av;betre:; Sorted t0,...with0utnepartngt'nom. thespit of the inven- Having'thusdescribed mvinvention,Isgclaim; Af'

1. A toggle bolt comprising a barrel ghaving;a;cyl1n l;- dricalrtbpreandllincluding a-.r2l'1.1g.at.itsA outerl endl-,Said P1ug;l 1=1.v1.1 .iQlfililigr' tml.chlsrriallerr ings-limieten; said bore and arranged inspaced concentric relation? to` if the, wlliof the boren said'barreltbeingprovided with pair of longitudinally extending slotswhich#iegt'erdb`e-- tveeni the` outer and',n'ner ends; ofthelbarrel,sadi's'lt's being generally of the same length, a toggle elementi?! Ypermanently mounted withinthe'fslots vand movablelbodily Within theslots`and guided in suchV d'3 Cms-11PM? @heftig n2, 11H0 uslwigitudmaigenie'movement by i movement of the toggle element with respect to the barrelwhen the toggle element is arranged transversely of said barrel, saidpivot member having a radial screwthreaded opening formed therein at itscenter and extending transversely of the toggle element, said toggleelement being provided adjacent to its longitudinal center with anoutwardly flaring guide recess leading into one end of thescrew-threaded opening, a .cam element carried by one end of the toggleelement and extending to the outer adjacent edge of the toggle elementand having a cam face extending from lsaid adjacent longitudinal edge ofthe cam element to a point adjacent to the longitudinal center of thetoggle element, said cam face extending radially outwardly beyond thelongitudinal center of the toggle element when the toggle element is inthe inner longitudinal position, a screw longitudinally movably mountedthrough the opening in the plug at the outer end of the barrel, saidscrew having an exterior diameter which is much smaller than thediameter of the bore of the barrel whereby the leading contacting end ofthe screw is concentric with the barrel and arranged at thellongitudinal center of the barrel, the arrangement being such that whenthe screw is shifted longitudinally within the barrel its leading endwill rst contact with the cam element and thereby swing the toggleelement upon its transverse axis to be arranged at substantially -aright angle to the longitudinal axis of the barrel and the leadingcontacting end of the screw will be concentric with the barrel and theHaring guide recess to be guided thereby into the screw-threaded openingof the spherically curved member, and means to limit the swingingmovement of the toggle element with relation to the barrel.

2. A toggle bolt comprising a barrel having a cylindrical bore andincluding a plug at its outer end, said plug having an opening muchsmaller in diameter than said bore and arranged in spaced concentricrelation to thel wall of the bore, said barrel being provided with apair of longitudinally extending slots which extend between the outerand inner ends of the barrel, said slots being generally of the sameflength, 'a toggle element permanently mounted within the yslots andmovable bodily within the slots and guided in such movement by saidslots, a spherically curved pivot member rigidly mounted upon the toggleelement adjacent toits longitudinal center and slidably mounted withinthe cylindrical bore of the barrel, the spherically curved pivotrmemberpivotally mounting the toggle element upon the inner face of saidcylindrical bore and also permitting of the longitudinal movement of thetoggle element with respect-to the barrel when the toggle element Iisarranged transversely of said barrel, said pivot member having a radialscrewthreaded opening formed therein at its center and extendingtransversely of the toggle element, said toggle element being providedadjacent to its longitudinal center with an outwardly flaring guiderecess leading into one end of the screw-threaded opening, a cam elementcarried by one end of the toggle element and extending to the outervadjacent edge of the toggle element and having a cam face extending fromsaid adjacent longitudinal edge of the cam element to a point adjacentto the longitudinal center of the toggle element, said cam faceextending radially outwardly beyond the longitudinal center of thetoggle element when the toggle element is in the inner longitudinalposition, a screw longitudinally movably mounted through the opening inthe plug at the outer end of the barrel, said screw having an exteriorldiameter which is much smaller than the diameter of the bore of thebarrel whereby the leading contacting end of the screw is concentricwith the barrel and arranged at the cam element and thereby swing thetoggle element upon its transverse axis to be arranged at substantiallya right angle to the longitudinal axis ofthe barrel and the leadingcontacting end of the screw will be concentric with the barrel and thearing guide recess to be guided thereby into the screw-threaded openingof the spherically curved member, 4and a stop element mounted upon thetoggle element to engage the exterior of the barrel.

3. A toggle bolt comprising a barrel having a cylindrical bore andincluding a plug at its outer end, said plug having an opening muchsmaller in diameter than said bore and arranged in spaced concentricrelation to the wall of the bore, said barrel being provided with a pairof longitudinally extending slots which extend between the outer andinner ends ofthe barrel, said slots being generally of the same length,one of said slots having inwardly converging beveled edges, a toggleelement permanently mounted within the slots and movable bodily withinthe slots and guided in such movement by said slots, a sphericaillycurved pivo-t member rigidly mounted upon the toggle element adjacent toits longitudinal center and slidably mounted within the cylindrical boreof the barrel, the spherically curved pivot member pivotally mountingthe toggle element upon the inner face of said cylindrical bore and alsopermitting of the longitudinal movement of the toggle element withrespect to the barrel when the toggle element is arranged transverselyof the barrel,` said pivot member having a radial screw-threaded openingformed therein at its center and extending transversely of the toggleelement, said toggle element being provided adjacent to its longitudinalcenter with an outwardly flaring guide recess leading into one end ofthe screw-threaded opening, a cam element carried by one end of thetoggle element and extending to the outer adjacent edgeof the toggleelement and having a cam face extending from said adjacent longitudinaledge of the cam element to a point adjacent to the longitudinal centerof the toggle element, said cam face extending radially outwardly beyondthe longitudinal center of the toggle element when the toggle element isin the inner longitudinal position, a screw longitudinally movablymounted through the opening in the plug at the outer end of the barrel,said screw having an exterior diameter which is much smaller' than thediameter of the bore of the barrel whereby the leading contacting end Aof the Iscrew is concentric with the barrel and arranged at thelongitudinal center of the barrel, the'arrangement being such that whenthe screw is shifted longitudinally within the barrel its leading endwill rst contact with the cam element `and thereby swing the toggleelement upon its transverse axis to be arranged at substantially a rightangle to the longitudinal axis of the barrel and. the leading contactingend of the screw will be concentric with the barrel and the flaringguide recess to be guided thereby into the screw-threaded opening of thespherically curved member, and means forming inwardly converging beveledfaces upon the toggle element adjacent to its longitudinal edge andinwardly of such edge, said beveled faces engaging the beveled edges ofsaid slot when the toggle element is in the inner longitudinal positionand to engage the exterior of the barrel when the toggle element is inthe outer transverse position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS557,361 Church Mar. 31, 1896 1,084,284 Merrill Ian. 13, 1914 2,609,723Stubbs Sept. 9, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 115,373 Germany Nov. 191900

